At 11:35 PM 8/12/00, F. Alfredo Rego wrote:
>Julie Bixby <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>>Why doesn't the 3000-L community place an ad in INFOWORLD the week of HP
>>World? A quarter-page ad would suffice. The text could be something like:
>>
>>"Dear Carly,
>>
>>Thanks for keeping HP's best kept secret.
>>
>>Sincerely,
>>
>>the Members of 3000-L" (or comp.sys.hp.mpe, or both, or however you want to
>>sign it)
>>I have no idea how much an ad would cost, but if resources were pooled and
>>the ad kept to minimum size, it could be doable.
>
>Great idea, Julie! I assume that you are in charge of organizing the
>minor technical details with the publication now :-)
>
>Or would somebody like Ron Seybold have the necessary publishing
>connections?
>
>You can count on my contribution towards placing this ad. BTW, the lead
>time for these kinds of publications is quite short. So, time is of the
>essence.
>
>I knew that these clever MPE marketing folks would think of something
>outstanding. Congratulations, Julie.
Where do I send my personal check? :)
And how much do we need to raise?
Let's go, folks! :)) Put your money where you mouth is. Second to the
theme T- and polo shirts (reminiscent of "Proposition 3000", eh?) I think
this is the best idea yet. I'm up for both. Alfredo said he was. Who else
is up for this?
Step right up! Now's your chance to change the future! Be a part of
history! Do something you can tell your grandkids about! (Or at least the
"wet behind the ears" newbies at the office as you dazzle them with the
awesome history and utility of MPE. :)
Seriously, folks. Consider contributing to such a worthy cause. It just
might make our careers better. And it's bound to be rewarding for those
folks who discover the advantages of MPE and put them to work for
themselves. But this isn't about charity.
It's about improving a tool we all find valuable and expanding it's market
visibility for the simple purpose of expanding it's market share, which
will increase it's cost-effectiveness, improve the "economies of scale",
make the platform more critical to HP's bottom line, ensure it's already
significant anticipated future longevity, increase our choices of solutions
on the platform, extend the base of technical people skilled in and
enthused about MPE, and that's just the advantages that come to mind off
the top of my head.
I'm sure there are other advantages... for HP, for HP's shareholders, for
MPE users (old and new), and if Wirt is right (and by my count he's dang
near always right ;) it's good for the future of computing in general since
MPE is so far the closest thing we have to "computing appliances" which
must ultimately win out in the process of natural selection in the
evolution of computer systems. So... this isn't for everyone else's
good. This is for *my* good... and yours. Think about it. And choose
wisely the path which leads to long term consequences you desire.
PS. I really do want to know where to send the check. And some notion of
how much to raise so I can decide how deep to dig.
PPS. I'm a really big fan of Robert A. Heinlein's work. Several quotes
from Lazarus Long, one of his more persistent characters (and he's a
persistent character in every way ;), seem applicable here [some more than
others]:
>Always listen to experts. They'll tell you what can't be done, and
>why. Then do it.
>
>It has long been known that one horse is faster than another--but which
>one? Differences are crucial.
>
>All men are created unequal. [So are all operating systems.]
>
>It may be better to be a live jackal than a dead lion, but it is better
>still to be a live lion. And usually easier.
>
>One man's theology is another man's belly laugh.
>
>An elephant: a mouse build to government specifications.
>
>What are the facts? Again and again and again--what are the facts? Shun
>wishful thinking, ignore divine revelation, forget what "the stars
>foretell", avoid opinion, care not what the neighbors think, never mind
>the unguessable "verdict of history"--what are the facts, and to how many
>decimal places? You pilot into an unknown future; facts are your single
>clue. Get the facts!
>
>The truth of a proposition has nothing to do with its credibility. And
>vice versa.
>
>Beware of altruism. It is based on self-deception, the root of all evil.
>
>You live and learn. Or you don't live long.
>
>Never underestimate the power of human stupidity.
>
>To stay young requires the unceasing ability to unlearn old falsehoods.
>
>Does history record any case in which the majority was right?
>
>Secrecy is the beginning of tyranny.
>
>The greatest productive force is human selfishness.
>
>Tilting at windmills hurts you more than the windmills.
>
>Yield to temptation; it may not pass your way again.
>
>Natural laws have no pity.
>
>Freedom begins when you tell Mrs. Grundy to go fly a kite.
>
>If "everybody knows" such-and-such, then it ain't so, by at least ten
>thousand to one.
>
>You can go wrong by being too skeptical as readily as by being too trusting.
>
>Anything free is worth what you pay for it.
>
>Climate is what we expect; weather is what we get.
>
>Certainly the game is rigged. Don't let that stop you; if you don't bet,
>you can't win.
>
>A generation which ignores history has no past--and no future.
>
>Never appeal to a man's "better nature". He may not have one. Invoking
>his self-interest gives you more leverage.
>
>If tempted by something that feels "altruistic", examine your motives and
>root out that self-deception. Then, if you still want to do it, wallow in it!
>
>There is no such thing as "social gambling". Either you are there to cut
>the other bloke's heart out and eat it--or you're a sucker. If you don't
>like this choice--don't gamble. [Seems there's something of a parallel
>there to business and any competition.]
Wow... More than I expected showed up there. Oh well. Enjoy. Those are
from Heinlein's novel "Time Enough for Love" (ISBN 0-441-81076-4). They
(and more) are also collected in a wonderful little book called "The
Notebooks of Lazarus Long" (ISBN 0-87654-473-1). I highly recommend both. :)
And last but certainly not least: TANSTAAFL
--
Jeff Woods
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